Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Albert Jones, 'Golden Glen', home of photographer, Albert Jones
... A.J. Spark Collection...Stamped in purple ink on reverse within border
"A.J. SPARK.... Spark Collection Albert Jones Golden Glen shops Wattle Glen ...
At the right of the photo is an apple orchard over the other side of Watery Gully creek. The house at the far end and middle building in the photo remain as of 2024, located at 205 Kangaroo Ground-Wattle Glen Rd, Kangaroo Ground between Pretty Hill Lane and Millers Road.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/riyy56LsfEMz4w5W6
Reproduced in The Diamond Valley Story, Dianne H Edwards, The Shire of Diamond Valley 1979, p138
"Golden Glen, the home at Wattle Glen of photographer and orchardist Albert Jones. It was in one of these outbuildings that the hundreds of glass negatives of the Spark/Jones Collection werer found.
Phot: Spark/Jones Collection"
See Ref: EDHS_03112
A WINDOW ON THE PAST by Roger Sanders, The Sun, Wednesday, Auguist 11, 1976, pp 38-39
A fascinating window has been opened on the early life of the Eltham district.
It is a rare collection of 3,000 perfectly preserved glass plate photograph negatives.
The collection is the work of the late Albert Jones, a Diamond Creek orchardist and amateur photographer.
About 500 of the negatives have been printed and 100 are on display at Gallery 4, Eltham, as part of the Eltham Festival," which started on Friday.
They capture in fine detail rural and village life around Eltham, Hurstbridge, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Glen and Diamond Valley from 1900 to 1930.
While the natural beauty of the district was painted in this period by Arthur Streeton (later Sir Arthur), Tom Roberts and Charles Conder, among others, photography was relatively new.
Yet Albert Jones used the new medium to compile a weighty album of pioneers at work, at home, at sport and on holidays.
He was at the first Yarra Glen race meeting, early Diamond Valley football matches and photographed soldiers from the district leaving for war.
He photographed early gold mines, men with horses laying the Diamond Creek-Hurstbridge rail track and the arrival of the first steam train at Hurstbridge.
He took his cameras on holiday around Victoria and the collection includes scenes from St. Kilda and Portsea and many country towns.
The Jones collection of negatives was found by Mr A. J. "Ned" Spark, of Balwyn, under a house he bought from Mr Jones' widow.
The plates almost went to the tip with a pile of rubbish before Mr Spark realised their potential value.
Mr Spark, who is retired, will continue the identification and recording of the photographs when he returns from holidays.
The exhibition of the Jones' photographs is open each afternoon until August 21 at Gallery 4, 1016 Main Rd., Eltham.
Photographs included in article:
• The priceless collection of glass plate negatives were found under this house in Eltham [actually Wattle Glen], home of Albert Jones and his wife.
• A quiet country pub - Panton Hills Hotel.
• Teams of draught horses were used in the building of the Diamond Creek-Hursbridge railway in 1910.
• Chinaman Jimmy using a gold cradle in Wattle Glen Gully.
• The photographer and orchardist Albert Jones. His work is on show as part of the Eltham Festival
• St Kilda Pier – several of the houses are still standing, but the waterfront has changed dramatically since this was taken before 1920.
• A picnic was a dressy affair at the start of the century – the women in this family group are decked in lace and pearls.Stamped in purple ink on reverse within border
"A.J. SPARK COLLECTION
PHOTOS 1900 - 1930
PHOTOGHRAPHER LATE ALBERT JONES
DIAMOND VALLEY. TEL: 83-3561"a.j. spark collection, albert jones, golden glen, shops, wattle glen